Pick n Pay’s online retail division has reported a 60.6% year-on-year growth in sales. This reflects the company’s strategic advancements in its on-demand platforms and digital transformation. The expansion has been fueled by the popularity of Pick-n-Pay’s on-demand retail services.
These include the Pick-n-Pay asap! app and Pick n Pay’s Groceries on Mr. D. Both are now accessible through 550 Pick n Pay stores nationwide. The relaunch of the Pick n Pay asap! app in October 2023 has been a key catalyst behind this growth.
The updated app boasts enhanced functionality, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities. These include AI Search, Alternatives, and Personalization, which make the shopping experience more tailored and efficient for each user. The app has also benefited from cloud-based technology and a scalable architecture, improving speed and reliability.
Pick n Pay has directed resources toward strengthening store operations, logistics, and marketing initiatives. These investments have streamlined order fulfillment, reduced picking times, and ensured on-time deliveries.
Pick n Pay’s digital growth
This has contributed to a 24% boost in overall customer satisfaction. “By investing in cutting-edge technology and expanding our on-demand services, we’re meeting the growing demand for seamless, convenient online shopping,” stated a Pick n Pay representative. “Our recent advancements ensure that we remain a leader in South Africa’s evolving digital retail landscape.”
Pick n Pay has also partnered with OpenText to supercharge its software testing processes.
Leveraging generative-AI and private large language models (LLM), Pick n Pay has automated 95% of its software testing. This has cut testing times by up to three days and significantly improved its digital services for e-commerce customers. A year after pioneering Bitcoin payments at tills across South Africa, Pick n Pay is now generating R1 million monthly sales from shoppers using cryptocurrency.
Customers purchase groceries, data, and airtime and pay their municipal bills using Bitcoin. This marks a significant milestone in integrating cryptocurrency into mainstream retail in South Africa. The majority of transactions involve amounts of R500 or less, with a transaction cap at R10,000.
Crypto payments are taking off, and Pick n Pay remains the first and only large retail store to accept cryptocurrency, showing exponential growth each month over the past year. Pick n Pay’s online growth and continued digital innovations position the retailer as a significant player in the evolving digital retail landscape in South Africa. Through strategic partnerships and embracing emerging technologies, Pick n Pay meets the increasing demand for online, seamless, and convenient shopping experiences.
